Squirrelflight looked down at the little cats beside her. “Are you ready to meet your Clanmates?” she asked. “And your father?”
Three small heads nodded vigorously.
“When can I start being a warrior?” Lionkit squeaked.
Squirrelflight licked his head. “Soon enough,” she promised. She looked over her shoulder at Leafpool. “This is it,” she murmured.
“Thank you,” Leafpool whispered.
Squirrelflight led her kits into the thorns, holding the prickly tendrils aside with her body. Lionkit and Hollykit walked either side of Jaykit to guide him through. The branches stirred around them, swallowing them up. There was a moment of silence as they emerged into the clearing, then Leafpool heard a chorus of voices.
“Squirrelflight! You’re back!”
“With kits? I didn’t even know you were expecting!”
“Thank StarClan Leafpool was with you! Are you all well? They look fine!”
“Brambleclaw, look! You’re a father!”
Leafpool stood outside the barrier of thorns and closed her eyes. Three tiny shapes filled her mind, three pairs of eyes—amber, green and blue—glowed from the shadows.
Live well, my darlings. You will always be in my heart.